County of Forty Mile September 24 Council Meeting highlights 

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Ryan Dahlman

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

The County of Forty Mile Council met on September 24 to discuss a range of topics impacting the community. From infrastructure updates to regional partnerships, here’s a summary of the key decisions and discussions that took place.

Business arising from the minutes discussed several updates, including that the culvert at Township Road 70 and Range Road 135 is now fully installed. Additionally, staff are exploring options for repurposing or managing the old administration building, and the Burdett Growth Study will be reviewed as part of the upcoming budget discussions.

Under new business, it was noted that with all Councillor candidates acclaimed in the recent election, the originally planned candidates’ forum has been replaced with a “Coffee with Council” event. Scheduled for early 2026, this informal gathering will allow residents to connect with their elected officials. The CAO has welcomed the Councillors and confirmed their attendance at the Munis 101 training program.

Council plans to meet with the RCMP Commanding Officer during the RMA Convention in November. Key topics of discussion will include rising municipal policing costs and their impact on service levels, concerns over after-hours response times, ensuring 24/7 availability, and addressing staffing shortages caused by extended vacancies during leaves.

Superintendent Nathan Kardish and Inspector Neil Klatt of the Alberta Sheriffs Interdiction Patrol Teams presented to Council. They highlighted their role in supporting RCMP enforcement along the border and encouraged landowners to report suspicious activity. The Sheriffs also provide surge policing support during events requiring heightened enforcement.

A draft Council Procedural Bylaw was introduced to modernize meeting rules and align with recent amendments to the Municipal Government Act. The bylaw clarifies procedures around public participation, public hearings, and electronic attendance. The first reading of Bylaw No. 2025-06 was carried.

Council supported the Municipal District of Taber’s application for a 2025/26 Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) grant. This initiative will fund a Regional Area Structure Plan (ASP) to assess infrastructure needs for water, wastewater, utilities, transportation, and land use. The project aims to enhance industrial development and employment opportunities while fostering regional collaboration.

Council discussed road damage caused by heavy traffic during the potato and sugar beet harvests. Options such as implementing a road ban or surcharge to cover repair costs were considered.

 Council decided to maintain the current compensation model for elected officials for now. Future changes would be reviewed by the new Council during the Special Meeting following the Organizational Meeting.

Provincially mandated emergency management training for elected officials has been scheduled for January 13, 2026.

The North Forty Mile Landfill Project remains on hold pending further information that must be provided to Alberta Environment. In the interim, there is exploration of the option of transporting waste to the Town of Redcliff.

Council meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.